Improvement in oscillating engines



C. REED. Improvement in Oscillating-Engines.

Patented Sep.17,18 72.

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resents a longitudinal section through the.

UNITED STATES PATENT DFFICE.

CHARLES REED, OF GEORGETOWN, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

I'MPROVEM ENT IN O'SCI'LLATING ENGINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 131,461, dated September 17, 1872.

To an whom it may concern:

invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam or Water Engines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and

exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing making a part of this specification, in which-- Figure 1 represents, in perspective, an exterior view of the engine, or of the case containing it, and such parts as pass through or Fig. 2 repcase or cover, and the engine inclosed therein.

' Fig. 3 represents a vertical transverse section through the same. Figs. 4 and 5 represent, respectively the valve or packing box, and the rubber packing therefor for packing the steam or water joint between the inlet and the cylinder and its ports.

Similar letters of reference, where they occur in the separate figures, denote like parts in the drawing.

My invention relates, first, to a cylinder oscillating upon trunnions fixed to its head, and with the prime and exhaust openings in its perimeter, said perimeter oscillating against a concave packing-box, through which the steam or water is admitted. My invention further relates to an adjustable valve, and an India-rubber packing, of peculiar construction, therein. My invention further relates to an oscillating engine arranged, operating, and exhausting inside of a case, so as to work submerged in the exhaust steam or water, which serves as a lubricator. My invention further relates to an arrangement of inlet and outlet ports, so that both primes are cut off just before the crank reaches the dead-points, and so that both exhausts shall be partly open at the dead-point, and so allowing the piston to pass over the dead-centers without jar or concussion.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the drawing.

The steam-cylinder A is hung by its trunnions 0. a. in suitable bearings b b, made on the interior sides of an inclosing-case B, said trunnions being made on the headsc of the cylinder. The water or steam that is to operate the engine is admitted through an opening or pipe, 0, which is controlled by a rubber packing, e, to be more particularly described hereafter, and by an adjustable valve, d, arranged in said inlet-passage; and the exhaust which takes place within the case B passes out through an exhaust pipe or passage, D. The rubber packing e is made and vulcanized in a mold of proper form, and is composed of a block or web, 1, having flanges 2 projecting from each of its sides, said flanges margining the opening through the block, body, or web.)

This packing is placed in a recess formed in an enlargement, f, made in or on one of the ends of the case B, as shown in Fig. 2. The valve d sets against the inner side of the rubber packing, receiving the flanges of the packing in a recess formed for that purpose; and that side of the valve next to the steam-cylinder A is made concave, so as to snugly fit against the perimeter of the steam-cylinder.

and make a close working joint with it. A set-screw, g, the point of which bears against the valve at '3, is arranged so as toadjust the valve to the cylinder. The packing and valve are represented in the drawing as introduced into their seats from the interior of the case A; but they may be introduced into their working position from the exterior of the case through the openingO, which is then enlarged for that purpose; and in such construction they could be removed, replaced, and repaired, as well as be adjusted from the exterior, by uncoupling the pipe connection at G. The object of the rubber packing is that the pressure of the water or steam in passing through it may expand it against the joints and make them tight. The water or steam cylinder A is bored out, as shown at E, Fig. 2, the chamber being a little on one side of the center of motion or of the trunnions, and the top and bottom of the cylinder are inclined, as seen at h. This admits of the construction of the primes or inlets and exits 43 i, and of a greater length of stroke in a cylinder of a given diameter. The piston-rod F, carrying the piston G, passes through a packed joint or stuffing box, j, and at its upper end is connected to a crank, H, upon a shaft, I, all arranged within the case A, one end of said shaft, k, passing through the case at a packed joint, or by a stuffing-box, as at Z, to receive a balance-wheel and to transmit the power of the engine to the machinery that is to be driven by it. The water or steam, after it has moved the piston, is exhausted into the case, and from thence it escapes by the pipe D, arranged near the top of the case, so that the engine and its several parts work, or may work, submerged, and without any other lubrication than that afforded by the water or steam. The primes or inlets i are so arranged with regard to the opening 111, through the valve 01, as that both primes will be entirely out off or closed just before the crankH reaches the deadpoint, and both exhausts be partly open at the dead-point, and thus allow the piston to pass the dead-centers without jar or concussion. This is accomplished in part by the circular or concave side of the valve d, against which the perimeter of the cylinder moves, and by making the extreme points 4 4 of the primes somewhat further apart than the extreme points 5 5 of the valve d, thus leaving small exhaust openings when the piston is passing thedead-centers, and so avoid all jar or concussion.

The recesses shown in the flanges 2 of the rubber packing e, as at 6, are made in this special case to let in the bars 3 3. These bars may be easily set forward or back of their present position, and then the flanges 2 may vextend clear around the opening of the packing and better pack the joint.

The primes or inlets are a little to one side of the center of the cylinder, which makes the pressure more on one side than the other thereof but these inlets may be arranged diametrically opposite each other, on a line with the trunnions, and so more uniformly equalize the pressure upon the cylinder.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of the cylinder A, hung by and oscillating upon trunnions affixed to its heads, with the valve d and. the inlets or openings, substantially as and for the purpose described and represented.

2. The combination of the valve d and rubber packing e, as and for the purpose described and represented.

3. The arrangement of an oscillating engine and its coactive parts with an inclosing-case into which the exhaust is made, so the engine and its material connections may work submerged in the water or steam, as and for the purposes described and represented.

4. The construction and arrangement of the inlet and exhaust openings or primes in relation to the piston and crank, so that the primes may be closed just before the crank is on the dead-center, and both exhausts slightly open when the piston passes the dead-point, for the purpose described and represented.

CHAS. REED.

Witnesses:

A. B. STOUGHTON, E. J. KLOPFER. 

